Tim Melia suspended by MLS after controversial tackle on Cristian Roldan
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia has been suspended for one match and issued an undisclosed fine for violent conduct during the match against the Seattle Sounders on October 23.
The player will serve his suspension on October 27 as Sporting Kansas City faces LA Galaxy.
The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee made the announcement after careful consideration and review from October 23 to 27.
The play was seen under MLS Disciplinary Committee Parameter 3, where the match officials see an incident and do not issue a red card.
“Under Parameter 3, the MLS Disciplinary Committee shall issue either a one-match suspension on incidents in which the Professional Referee Organization acknowledges an on-field Referee/Video Assistant Referee (VAR) error and the Committee is unanimous at red card and one match or the MLS Disciplinary Committee shall issue a two or more match suspension on incidents in which discipline warrants at least a two-match suspension," a statement read.
"The incident in question must be, in the unanimous opinion of the Committee from all available evidence: a clear and unequivocal red card; and egregious or repeat behavior in nature, and/or such that the MLS Disciplinary Committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game; and/or clear and obvious simulation/embellishment.”
Sporting Kansas City sits in second place on the Western Conference table with 55 points in 30 games as the regular-season comes to a close, qualifying for a spot in the 2021 playoffs.
The game against the Galaxy, however, will not be easy as the California-based team will be fighting to move up a spot on the table to gain momentum and advantage in the postseason.
Sporting’s head coach Peter Vermes has not addressed the media on the matter or revealed who will be taking Melia’s place, but he holds quite a few options.
There are three goalkeeper options on the list that hold supplemental roster positions, with Brooks Thompson standing as the only officially signed figure.
Vermes has not played Thompson or any of the other goalkeeping options on the roster so far this season, sticking to Melia for all competitions, making this situation far worse in such a crucial moment of the tournament.